Flowers of the Sun - this is how the herb of calendula was called before. The medicinal properties and contraindications of medicinal plants are known from ancient times. The first mention of it can be found in "herbalists", dated XII century. In the Latin classification of medicinal plants, calendula is called Calendula officinilas.

Official registries of medicinal raw materials in many countries contain flowers of calendula. The healing properties and contraindications of this plant have been studied for a long time: even Peter the Great gave the order that the very first plantation of calendula was laid in the vicinity of St. Petersburg.

Collection and procurement of raw materials

In pharmaceutics, only marginal petals of flowers are used, however, in folk medicine, whole flower baskets can be used. Prepare the raw material after the flowers completely dissolve. The collected petals dry naturally - under special canopies, protecting from the influence of ultraviolet rays, destroying biologically active compounds. Raw materials can also be dried artificially at a temperature of no more than 80оC.

After four months, the calendula is gradually losing its medicinal properties and contraindications. Reviews of the medicinal plant indicate that the maximum shelf life is one year.

Chemical composition

In pharmaceutics and traditional medicine, calendula is highly valued because of the carotenoid species contained in 15 colors. Most of them are concentrated in the lobules of the petals, therefore in official medicine they try to use them. Also, the composition of calendula includes flavonoids, the maximum concentration of which is contained in the nails of terry varieties.

In folk medicine, practically the whole plant is used, including roots. The latter contain glycosides, in the aerial part - phytosterols.

In addition to the substances listed above, calendula contains other organic compounds with high biological activity.

Pharmacological properties

As shown by numerous scientific experiments, preparations based on calendula have a hypnotic and sedative effect, which varies depending on the chosen dosage. The plant also suppresses most bacteria, viruses and fungi. The marigold consists of coumarins, carotenoids and flavonoids, which have an anti-inflammatory effect and relieve painful sensations that activate tissue regeneration. Many preparations of the pharmaceutical industry use calendula. Ointment, medicinal properties and contraindications of which are identified by experimental means, is widely used for the treatment of trophic ulcers and dermatitis. Based on flavonoid nails, the preparation "Kaleflon" was developed, used to treat toxic hepatitis, stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Preparations based on calendula are widely used in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, the symptoms of which are edema and dyspnea.

Professor Khvorov created and tested tinctures based on calendula. Therapeutic properties and contra-indications for women were fixed during the research: drugs helped to cope with disorders of the autonomic nervous system, eliminated migraine, sleep disorders, nervousness, heart palpitations and other symptoms characteristic of menopausal and post-menopausal conditions. But they could cause a sharp drop in blood pressure. Patients who took tincture of marigolds three times a day, spoke of a significant improvement in well-being. At the same time, the main contraindication to taking calendula was pregnancy and breastfeeding.

In complex therapy for the treatment of a variety of diseases associated with changes in the tissues of internal organs, marigolds were also used.

With diseases of the liver and spleen, intestines, peptic ulcer, treatment was performed several times more successfully with the use of preparations based on marigolds. Use of medicines based on it is not recommended for patients with low blood pressure and individual intolerance to the components. The results of the studies showed that calendula helps to eliminate changes in tissue structures, which contributes to the rapid recovery of patients.

Calendula in gynecology

In different fields of medicine calendula is used. Therapeutic properties and contraindications in gynecology have been studied for decades. Drugs on its basis can both save under different diseases, and harm. Tincture solution is used for douching with erosion of the cervix and trichomonas colpitis. Contraindications to the use of calendula in such a delicate area of ​​medicine remains pregnancy (since drugs on the basis of plants can provoke miscarriage), hypotension, individual intolerance of individual components.

Calendula in folk medicine

Indications for the use of drugs based on marigolds in folk medicine are the same as in the official. The only difference in opinion in the effectiveness of treatment of skin cancer. Oncologists, despite the fact that official medicine does not confirm the efficacy of marigolds in the treatment of cancer, still say that the loliolide included in their composition has antitumor effect. There is also an opinion according to which water-alcohol solutions of calendula inhibit the development of certain types of cancer cells.

Calendula oil is widely used for the treatment of various diseases, and its use is highly effective, which is proved by numerous tests.

Unlike the oil of St. John's wort, calendula oil is not able to protect the body from polyarthritis, but it can reduce joint tumors and reduce the rheumatoid factor.

Calendula in Homeopathy

Homeopaths did not ignore such a plant as calendula. The drug Calendula can be taken either externally or inward. In the first case, it is prescribed for the treatment of ulcers of the lower leg and open lacerations.

Tincture of marigold is sold in any pharmacy. Often it is used to treat inflammation of the throat, paradontosis and stomatitis: a teaspoon of the drug is diluted in a glass of warm water and used to rinse the mouth.

Also tincture is widely used in gynecology for syringing in order to eliminate erosion of the cervix, with delays in the menstrual cycle and trichomonas colpitis. When women's diseases are prepared infusion of calendula: 200 grams of boiling water pour two tablespoons of flowers, insist for half an hour, filter and take to the destination.

Calendula is also used to treat acute respiratory diseases. Therapeutic properties and contraindications for children have been studied for a long time. In inflammatory processes and respiratory diseases, drugs based on it can be given to a child, but with caution, to avoid deterioration. To do this, prepare a decoction, which rinse the throat.

It is also used for various injuries and bruises. Babies up to 12 years to give calendula for gargling are undesirable: they can swallow the tincture, which will lead to a gastrointestinal disorder or burn mucous if the drug was on an alcohol basis.

Infusion, prepared from the flowers of marigold, is used in the treatment of diseases of the spleen and liver, hepatitis, hypertension, nervosa and atherosclerosis. To prepare this medicine 4 tablespoons of dry inflorescences fill 400 gr. boiling water, insist for 15 minutes and filter. Take a decoction of 4 once a day inside half the glass.

With peptic ulcers, the infusion of calendula is drunk throughout the day with small sips. To treat thrombophlebitis and atrial fibrillation, the infusion is drunk four times a day in 100 ml. Promotes calendula normalization of sleep: for this take a decoction of flowers three times a day for a tablespoon.

But, in any case, remember that self-medication can harm your health! Before using the drug, you should consult your doctor.

Oil and ointment from marigold

Oil from calendula, as already mentioned above, is used to treat various diseases and pathologies. The preparation is prepared by extraction with neutral oils, mainly olive oil. 10 grams of marginal petals of marigolds are poured with 100 milliliters of oil and insist on the sun for a month. Mandatory condition: the container in which the medicine is located should be made of brown glass.

Ointment is used for the same diseases as oil. It is prepared by the method of mixing lanolin or interior fat with the juice of marigold flowers. Also for its preparation use tincture of marigolds or powder from the dried flowers.

Oily extract is used as an agent for the treatment of chronic rhinitis. The posterior wall of the pharynx is also irrigated in chronic pharyngitis. Preparing extract from 70% alcohol and dried marigold flowers. The liquid is infused over an interval of 48 hours, after which it is filtered, mixed with olive oil and aged for 7 hours in a water bath. The finished medicine is stored in the refrigerator.

To treat diseases of viral nature and liver diseases, herbal preparations are prepared, one of the components of which is calendula. Together with the nails used grass sporishi, chamomile, chicory, caraway and St. John's wort.

Calendula in Cosmetology

Cosmetology also uses calendula. Therapeutic properties and contraindications, reviews of patients who used drugs on its basis - all this is investigated by scientists. On the basis of the obtained data, the efficiency of calendula usage is confirmed, the reduction of skin fatness and fixation
inflammations, redness. Nails are often used as a means to create tonics and ointments that remove acne and freckles. It is not necessary to apply the alcohol tincture of calendula in undiluted form: it can dry the skin of the face, which will only worsen the situation and cause irritation.

A decoction of flowers of calendula is used to wash the face. It also makes ice cubes, which are then carried along the massage lines of the skin. The only contraindication to the use of ice from calendula is closely located vessels.

To cleanse the face of dead skin particles and eliminate wrinkles, make a bast from marigold. Regular use of such a tool allows not only to eliminate existing wrinkles, but also to prevent the appearance of new ones. Calendula smooths the tone of the face.

How to make a bast of marigold

A glass of dry oatmeal mixed with two teaspoons of calendula oil. The resulting mixture is placed in a bag of linen, which is carefully tied. With such a washcloth, you can do water procedures.

Calendula for the removal of age spots and freckles

The elimination of freckles and age spots is also helped by calendula. Therapeutic properties and contraindications, photos, reviews about the plant - all this can be found in different sources. The information obtained indicates both a cure for the skin condition and a deterioration in its condition due to allergic reactions and individual intolerance. You can enhance the positive effect if you mix fresh juice of calendula flowers with currant juice. Contraindications to the external use of calendula is practically none: most importantly - do not treat the face too often, so as not to over-dry the skin and not cause irritation.

Calendula in the treatment of acne

In the treatment of acne, calendula is also used universally. Therapeutic properties and contraindications, reviews about such a facility are collected by cosmetologists who, on the basis of the data obtained, create new drugs. Eliminate rashes of purulent nature on the face will help ointment from marigolds. Prepare it from a baby cream and small dried flowers. On the problem areas, the mixture is applied twice a day.

With the same purpose, tincture of calendula is used. Therapeutic properties and contraindications to the reception of such a drug are known for a long time: it helps to eliminate inflammation, but overdries the skin, so when using it, you must be extremely careful. Alcohol tincture the face wipe twice a day, previously diluted with water, so as not to harm the epidermis and do not overdry it.

Contraindications to use

The use of preparations from calendula inside does not cause any harm to health, but it is worth remembering that the marigold includes biologically active substances that can have different effects. For example, use drugs based on this plant during pregnancy is prohibited: they can trigger a miscarriage.

For medicinal preparations based on calendula, hypotensive effect is characteristic, therefore they should be taken with caution to those who suffer from low blood pressure.

Take calendula at the same time with drugs that have a similar or completely opposite effect, not. For example, the combination of marigolds and sedatives can lead to an increase in the activity of barbiturates. In this case, the use of preparations based on calendula completely neutralizes the effect of antidepressants.

Before you start using preparations based on calendula, it is desirable to find out all the information from a qualified doctor.

Calendula in Cosmetology

For a long time in cosmetology, calendula, medicinal properties and contraindications were studied. Reviews about the use of drugs based on marigolds, especially tinctures, suggest that people often use them for the treatment of acne - in just a week of rubbing the skin of a person with diluted water, all the redness and old traces of pimples disappear completely.

According to reviews, despite all the benefits of preparations based on calendula, it is contraindicated for those who suffer from hypotension
onii, VSD, bradycardia. Such medicines are not recommended for pregnant and lactating women: nails can cause an allergic reaction or, at worst, as mentioned above, provoke a miscarriage.

Calendula has not only a pronounced medicinal effect, but also a pleasant taste and smell: as an edible plant, it is often added to food as a spice. Despite the fact that the aroma of calendula flowers is pleasant to humans, for insects it is repulsive. Due to this property of marigolds, they can be used to protect the crop from pests.